Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
3,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
state-controlled Radio Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates a TV station and a national radio network; 3 private TV stations and about 10 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.bi
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
8.60% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
14,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
63 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
8,646,690 (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, beans, maize, vegetables, potatoes, rice, sugarcane, fruits (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$737.898 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$713.694 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$258.4 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$428.8 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$359.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$327.7 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$373.5 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$389.4 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$393.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$346.3 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$393.88 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$621.969 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$625.597 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$475.0 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$946.9 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$805.174 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
2885.245 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1555.091 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
1546.687 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
1571.898 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
1654.627 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
1729.055 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
1782.877 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
1845.623 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1915.046 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1975.951 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
2034.307 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
2574.052 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
2885.245 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, coffee, tea, tin ores, iron bars (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$302.752 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$333.637 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$378.229 million (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
5.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
30.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
75.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-24.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
13.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
25.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
9.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
49% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,195 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.162 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$16.786 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
37.5 (2020 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
29.9% (2020 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.9% (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
fertilizers, cement, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$1.166 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$1.42 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$1.433 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-0.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
5.54% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
5.56% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
16.05% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
-2.81% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
-0.69% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
7.32% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
8.40% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
18.80% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
26.94% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
20.21% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
6.107 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
51.00% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
48.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$7.823 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$7.977 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$8.590 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$9.106 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$10.643 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$12.089 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$13.426 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$11.048 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$11.343 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$11.739 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
-0.40% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.20% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.83% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
5.34% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.46% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
0.31% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
3.24% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
2.32% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.25% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.11% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$724 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$722 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$764 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$791 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$868 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$958 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$1,036 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$800 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$800 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$48.6 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$56.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$51.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$145.3 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
6.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
7.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$236.9 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$136.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$95.2 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$97.4 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$68.1 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$111.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$90.3 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$266.164 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$158.53 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$90.35 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
15.6% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
1.04% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
1.03% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
1.12% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
0.91% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
0.91% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
0.92% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
1.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
2.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
1.6% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
10,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
1.7%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
10.3% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
64%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
66.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
444.018 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
100 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
131,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
39.994 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
946,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
32,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
806,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm with two wet seasons (February to May and September to November) and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)
Environment: Environmental issues
soil erosion from overgrazing and agricultural expansion; deforestation; wildlife habitat loss
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
83.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 51.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
10.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
5.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
26.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
12.536 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
222 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
15 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
43.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
14.8% of total population (2023)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.872 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
7.1% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maryland
Geography: Area: land
25,680 sq km
Geography: Area: water
2,150 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
unnamed elevation on Mukike Range 2,685 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Lake Tanganyika 772 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
1,504 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
3 30 S, 30 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile
Geography: Irrigated land
230 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km; Rwanda 315 km; Tanzania 589 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,140 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
83.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 51.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
10.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
5.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
flooding; landslides; drought
Geography: Population distribution
one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Government: Administrative divisions
5 provinces: Buhumuza, Bujumbura, Burunga, Butanyerera, Gitega
Government: Capital: etymology
the origin of the name Bujumbura is unclear, but "bu-" is a Bantu prefix meaning "place"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
3 25 S, 29 55 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Burundi
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended
Government: Constitution: history
several previous, ratified by referendum 28 February 2005
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Burundi
Government: Country name: etymology
name dates from 1966 and is derived from the name of the local Bantu people, the Rundi or Barundi; ba - is the prefix for the people, and bu - is the prefix for the country; the former name, Urundi, is the Swahili version
Government: Country name: former
Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi
Government: Country name: local long form
République du Burundi (French)/ Republika y'u Burundi (Kirundi)
Government: Country name: local short form
Burundi
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Lisa PETERSON (since 27 June 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
BujumburaC@state.gov https://bi.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
No 50 Avenue Des Etats-Unis, 110-01-02, Bujumbura
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[257] 22-222-926
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2100 Bujumbura Place, Washington DC 20521-2100
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[257] 22-207-000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Jean Bosco BAREGE (since 27 February 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
burundiembusadc@gmail.com Burundi Embassy Washington D.C. (burundiembassy-usa.com)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 342-2578
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 342-2574
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2020: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, other 1.6% 2015: Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president; percent of vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (Hope of Burundians - Amizerio y'ABARUNDI) 19%, other 11.6%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
May 2027
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Nestor NTAHONTUYE (since 5 August 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
20 May 2020
Government: Flag
description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (on each side) with a white disk at the center bearing three six-pointed red stars outlined in green and arranged in a triangular design meaning: green stands for hope and optimism, white for purity and peace, and red for the blood shed in the struggle for independence; the three stars represent the major ethnic groups (Hutu, Twa, Tutsi), as well as unity, work, and progress
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew from ICCt in October 2017
Government: International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, CICA, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICGLR, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and cassation chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence; Martial Court; Commercial Court
Government: Legal system
mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
National Assembly (Inama Nshingamateka)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
June 2030
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
6/5/2025
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
111 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) (108); Other (3)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
39.6%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Inama Nkenguzamateka)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
July 2030
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
7/23/2025
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
13 (all indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) (10)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
46.2%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Parlement)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1962
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO
Government: National color(s)
red, white, green
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Government: National symbol(s)
lion
Government: Political parties
Council for Democracy and the Sustainable Development of Burundi or CODEBU Front for Democracy in Burundi-Sahwanya or FRODEBU-Sahwanya National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD National Congress for Liberty or CNL National Liberation Forces or FNL Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
Established in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s. Burundi’s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure. German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Belgian rule after World War I preserved Burundi’s monarchy. Seeking to simplify administration, Belgian colonial officials reduced the number of chiefdoms and eliminated most Hutu chiefs from positions of power. In 1961, the Burundian Tutsi king’s oldest son, Louis RWAGASORE, was murdered by a competing political faction shortly before he was set to become prime minister, triggering increased political competition that contributed to later instability. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi. Revolution in neighboring Rwanda stoked ethnic polarization as the Tutsi increasingly feared violence and loss of political power. A failed Hutu-led coup in 1965 triggered a purge of Hutu officials and set the stage for Tutsi officers to overthrow the monarchy in 1966 and establish a Tutsi-dominated republic. A Hutu rebellion in 1972 resulted in the deaths of several thousand Tutsi civilians and sparked brutal Tutsi-led military reprisals against Hutu civilians which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new constitution in 1992 and democratic elections in 1993. Tutsi military officers feared Hutu domination and assassinated Burundi's first democratically elected president, Hutu Melchior NDADAYE, in 1993 after only 100 days in office, sparking a civil war. In 1994, his successor, Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, died when the Rwandan president’s plane he was traveling on was shot down, which triggered the Rwandan genocide and further entrenched ethnic conflict in Burundi. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent cease-fire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi’s second democratic elections were held in 2005, resulting in the election of Pierre NKURUNZIZA as president. He was reelected in 2010 and again in 2015 after a controversial court decision allowed him to circumvent a term limit. President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE -- from NKURUNZIZA’s ruling party -- was elected in 2020.
Military and Security: Military - note
the National Defense Force (FDNB) is responsible for defending Burundi’s territorial integrity and protecting its sovereignty; it has an internal security role, including maintaining and restoring public order if required; the FDNB also participates in providing humanitarian/disaster assistance, countering terrorism, narcotics trafficking, piracy, and illegal arms trade, and protecting the country’s environment; the FDNB conducts limited training with foreign partners such as Russia and participates in regional peacekeeping missions, most recently in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Somalia; in recent years the FDNB has conducted operations against anti-government rebel groups based in the neighboring DRC that have carried out sporadic attacks in Burundi, such as the such as National Forces of Liberation (FNL), the Resistance for the Rule of Law-Tabara (aka RED Tabara), and Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB or FOREBU); Burundi has accused Rwanda of supporting the RED-Tabara the Arusha Accords that ended the 1993-2005 civil war created a unified military by balancing the predominantly Tutsi ex-Burundi Armed Forces (ex-FAB) and the largely Hutu dominated armed movements and requiring the military to have a 50/50 ethnic mix of Tutsis and Hutus (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Burundi National Defense Force (BNDF; Force de Defense Nationale du Burundi, FDNB): Land Force (Army), Naval Force, Air Force, Specialized Units Ministry of Interior, Community Development, and Public Security: Burundi National Police (Police Nationale du Burundi, PNB) (2024)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
limited available information; estimated 25-30,000 active-duty Defense Force troops (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
770 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); up to 10,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military has a mix of mostly older armaments typically of French, Russian, and Soviet origin, and a smaller selection of more modern equipment from such countries as China, Egypt, South Africa, and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
2.13% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
2.24% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
2.00% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
2.15% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
2.81% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
2.19% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
2.04% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.60% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
3.43% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
3.80% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
42.3% (male 2,895,275/female 2,848,286)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
54.4% (male 3,662,688/female 3,727,022)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.4% (2024 est.) (male 197,493/female 259,338)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
2.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
4.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
35.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
1.4% (2017)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
2.8% (2017)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
19% (2017)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
28.3% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
9.09% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
58.2% (2017 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.51 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
6.2 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
16.2 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
83.9 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
77.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 57.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 62.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 90.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 42.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 37.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 9.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.4% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.50% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Hutu, Tutsi, Twa, South Asian
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
2.43 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9.1% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
4.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.80% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2014 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
31.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
39.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Kirundi (official), French (official), English (official, least spoken), Swahili (2008 est.)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
Igitabo Mpuzamakungu c'ibimenyetso bifatika, isoko ntabanduka ku nkuru z'urufatiro. (Kirundi) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
65.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
61.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
66.2% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
78.2% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
71.34% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.207 million BUJUMBURA (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
392 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
18.7 years
People and Society: Median age: male
18 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
21.5 years (2016/17 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Burundian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
5.4% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
14,047,786 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.58% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
6,834,646
People and Society: Population: male
6,755,456
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 53.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 58.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 87.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 46.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 41.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 12.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
10 years (2018 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
10 years (2018 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
10 years (2018 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.98 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.76 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
4.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
14% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
9.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
4.79 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
14.8% of total population (2023)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
92,174 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
91,164 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
791 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
6 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9U
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.